American Women Suck

“We all experience numbness when we’ve been in pain for too long because we’re simply too exhausted to process our own emotions anymore. But eventually, we feel again…the highs and the lows, the joys and the sorrows. If you’re a deep-feeler, nubness will always be a short reprieve. You cannot hold back an ocean.” — Ranata Suzuki I have been in a state of emotional numbness( or Emotional Detachment) in a certain stage of my life. It was not what I wanted for myself, but as life passed by, the hardships associated with it made me accept it as a kind of power — a power I possessed to escape from the overwhelming life events I was experiencing. As time passed, I started to delve into it more deeply and began to feel like it was one of my strengths, but sadly, it is not. This feeling leaves individuals feeling disconnected from both their inner emotions and the outside world; it’s like observing life through a fog, rather than living it. It is often triggered by conditions like depression, grief, anxiety, or trauma; it’s the brain’s protective “freeze” response to overwhelming emotional pain. Classic signs include: Feeling emotionally flat or robotic. Disinterest in activities that once brought joy. Sense of detachment from self and others. Difficulty forming connections or maintaining relationships. Withdrawal or social isolation. Inability to feel sadness or enthusiasm. For me, it was as if life was on autopilot, unable to connect with my feelings, my surroundings, or my loved ones, even as life moved on around me. It helped me do the things I wanted to and was supposed to do without any pain or emotion, like a robot. It was as if my brain just froze when the emotional overload was unbearable. Living through emotional numbness can be disorienting. You may do all the tasks — work, chores, socializing while feeling nothing. Hobbies feel empty, conversations feel distant, and even love feels muted. It’s like wearing an emotional blindfold. During my journey through this, my partner’s love, understanding, and unintentional actions acted as a lifeline that helped me reconnect with my own life. It was not easy, but as time passed by, I recovered from it somehow completely. Here’s how she helped me heal: 1.Consistent Communication & Emotional Safety: It was not easy for me to open up to my partner in the beginning stage of our relationship. Also, I was a person who used to give emotional support to people whenever they needed me, making it hard for me to share everything so easily, and being an introvert and an unexpressive person increased the difficulty. But my partner, being curious about me, wanted to know why I am feeling the way I am. This small act of sharing everything lightened me from being cold. It created a safe space between us where we could trust each other and share anything and everything. My partner never failed to give me reassurances and ask the question that mattered to me most back then — “Are you okay?” This became a habit over time between both of us, and I started realizing that letting myself out was okay! These consistent, genuine check-ins without pressure or judgment signaled one simple truth to me: I mattered. 2. Invisible Support: My partner offered support that I could feel but seldom see — Encouragements, pushing me to do more, believing in me, forcing me to create new hobbies — these subtle things helped reduce my stress and build trust without making me feel incapable. These gestures reinforced that she was there for me, even when I couldn’t reach back emotionally at times. 3.Shared Rituals: We started many rituals together— Reading books, playing online games, watching YouTube and having discussions. These mustered tiny emotional sparks in me — some laughter, tears, comfort. Over time, these tiny sparks helped rekindle emotional warmth. 4. Sense of purpose: Amid the emotional numbness, I was in the middle of rediscovering myself, and I had lost any sense of purpose. My partner acted as a mirror — I mattered to someone, and that gave my life meaning again. It helps me work harder towards my goals- for myself and for us, for a brighter and purposeful future together. … Parting Lines Emotional numbness is not a personal failure. It’s a temporary refuge — one that becomes harmful over time. Though recovery involves therapy, mindfulness, and creative reconnection, the compassionate presence of a loved one, someone who holds space without judgment or giving up, can make the difference between lingering numbness and genuine rediscovery. Today, I feel more alive than I have in months, and credit the gentle support of my partner as a cornerstone of that healing. –Anushka & Vishnu — This post was previously published on medium.com. Love relationships? We promise to have a good one with your inbox. Subcribe to get 3x weekly dating and relationship advice. Did you know? We have 8 publications on Medium. Join us there! Hello, Love (relationships) Change Becomes You (Advice) A Parent is Born (Parenting) Equality Includes You (Social Justice) Greener Together (Environment) Shelter Me (Wellness) Modern Identities (Gender, etc.) Co-Existence (World) *** – Photo credit: Stormseeker On Unsplash The post This Is What Emotional Numbness Really Feels Like — And How I Escaped It appeared first on The Good Men Project. View the full article

By Rhett Ayers Butler Tim Christophersen argues that humanity’s crises of climate, biodiversity, and pollution stem from a fractured relationship with nature—one that cannot be abandoned, only repaired. He sees restoration as both urgent and possible: ecosystems, once given diversity and space, can recover quickly, offering resilience, carbon storage, and abundance. From UN diplomacy to corporate initiatives, he presses for treating ecosystems as essential infrastructure, requiring imagination, investment, and a “century of ecology” to secure civilization’s future. Christophersen was interviewed by Mongabay Founder and CEO Rhett Ayers Butler in August 2025. See All Key Ideas The forests of northern Europe provided Tim Christophersen with his first education. As a child in rural Germany he followed his grandfather, a forest ranger, on long walks among the trees. Fishing trips and mushroom hunts instilled habits of observation that would shape his later career. Today, after decades spent in international negotiations and corporate boardrooms, he still returns to nature daily, tending a regenerative farm outside Copenhagen. The rhythm of that farm, he says, reveals the “flywheel” of ecological balance: diversity begets resilience, resilience produces abundance. The contrast with industrial agriculture—built on simplification, fossil fuel inputs and fragile yields—is stark. This dual perspective, part diplomat and part farmer, underpins Christophersen’s views on humanity’s entanglement with the natural world, explored in his book Generation Restoration: How to Fix Our Relationship Crisis with Mother Nature. There he argues that the crises of climate, biodiversity and pollution are not external threats but symptoms of a broken relationship with nature. Repairing that relationship, he insists, is not optional. Unlike a failing marriage, humanity cannot simply walk away. Without functioning ecosystems, civilization itself is imperilled. Yet Christophersen’s analysis is not bleak. He stresses that nature is an ally as much as a victim. Forests, peatlands and mangroves can store carbon at vast scale, buffer coasts from storms, secure water supplies and rebuild soil. Even amid accelerating loss, restoration can succeed quickly once diversity is re-established. The evidence, he suggests, is there for anyone who cares to imagine landscapes not as they are—dry, degraded, denuded—but as they might be if given space to recover. Imagination, for him, is central. He worries about “shifting baselines”: the gradual amnesia that blinds each generation to past abundance. Children today may take silent seas or treeless plains as normal. Overcoming this requires both science and storytelling, to remind societies that the present scarcity is neither natural nor inevitable. He invokes Hölderlin, the German poet, who wrote that “where there is danger, the saving powers also grow.” In Christophersen’s view, solutions are already sprouting—in new technologies, in shifting financial flows, and in the persistence of ecosystems themselves. His years at the United Nations Environment Programme taught him the value of patient diplomacy, but also the limitations of policy without capital. He now works from the private sector, seeking to channel corporate resources toward restoration. At Salesforce, he champions initiatives from mangrove coalitions to AI-powered ecological tools. He argues that treating ecosystems as infrastructure—no less vital than roads or energy grids—could unlock both political will and investment. The sums required are vast, but the costs of neglect are larger still. The Amazon’s looming dieback, coral reefs under siege, and thawing permafrost offer reminders of how little time remains before ecological tipping points cascade beyond control. Still, Christophersen insists that a “century of ecology” can follow this UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration, provided societies learn to see economy and ecology not as rivals but as two expressions of the same root idea: the management of our common home. In conversation, he returns often to the personal. Food, he says, is the daily expression of nature on our plates. Asking where it comes from, and what ecosystems sustained it, is the simplest starting point for reconnection. Nature, after all, is waiting. An interview with Tim Christophersen Mongabay: What first sparked your passion for nature and environmental restoration? Tim Christophersen: I grew up in a small village surrounded by forests, and there was not much else to do than spending time in nature. My grandfather was a forest ranger who took me out for long walks, and I went mushroom hunting, fishing and camping from an early age. And while most kids both at that time and today have a very different childhood, usually within cities, I agree with E.O. Wilson’s ‘biophilia’ theory: humanity has lived from and with nature during basically all of our existence, and a deep understanding and love for nature is hardwired into our genes and brains. That passion for other life lives within each one of us, and it keeps bubbling up to the surface. We currently see a resurgence of that deep connection between humans and nature, and a new state of consciousness around the world is emerging. As nature is under existential threat, millions of young people and people of all ages realize this means that we are under threat, too. Mongabay: After 25 years working to protect biodiversity and address climate change, what gives you the most hope? Tim Christophersen: What gives me most hope is that nature is our staunchest ally! Nature is incredibly resilient, strong and patient. As we realize that we are part of nature, we will rise to the triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature loss and pollution. It is the only possible outcome for humanity, because the alternative is unthinkable. Runaway climate change, large-scale ecosystem collapse and lethal levels of pollution would mean the end of civilization as we know it, possibly for centuries to come. I am sure we are not ready to give in to that fear and anxiety. Instead, we can still choose a positive future, if we have the right narrative and vision. “Where there is danger, the saving powers also grow” is a saying attributed to 19th century German poet Friedrich Hölderlin. We are seeing a strong and fast growth of powerful solutions, both in technology and in our relationship with nature. The inertia of existing systems and power structures is strong, but the force of renewal, innovation and collaboration have always been stronger in the long term. Mongabay: In your book, you mention “shifting baseline syndrome.” How can we overcome it? Tim Christophersen: The cure for shifting baseline syndrome – the gradual amnesia of what natural abundance and diversity look like – is imagination! It can be triggered by storytelling based on the scientific evidence of the true wealth of nature. Imagine if we would see landscapes around us not as they are, but as they could be if they were fully restored. I don’t mean restored in the sense of going back to some romanticized past and static ecological state. I mean restored in terms of nature and humans living in a mutually beneficial and fully intentional, healthy, and productive relationship. That is within reach if we have basic ecological literacy, and the right imagination. Generative AI can help with creating that knowledge and imagination. Take for example the Mediterranean basin, now plagued by record drought, fire, and floods. A geological millisecond ago, countries like Spain, Italy and Greece and also Morocco, Tunisia or Egypt were mostly covered in towering forests, providing for a cool, moist climate, fertile soil, and abundant nature on which all ancient civilizations in the area built their prosperity and naval power. All of that natural wealth has disappeared. We live in a ‘ten percent world’, as I describe in the book. And at the same time, we are the first generation that has the scientific knowledge, and the technological and financial means to restore entire biomes to that previously unimaginable levels of productivity and abundance. An exciting opportunity! But we first need the imagination to get started. We need to understand our role on this planet as stewards of nature. We are Earth’s most powerful ecosystem engineer, and we can use that power for good. Mongabay: You’ve worked at high-level political negotiations and in the corporate sector—where do you see the greatest potential for transformative action on the environment? Tim Christophersen: I have tried to distill 25 years of experience on climate and nature policy and projects around the world into my book. In my view, the greatest untapped potential for more decisive action is in more effective collaboration between the public and private sector, which can spark a virtuous cycle of creating more political will and more resources. One key step would be to lift the discussion about ecosystem restoration to the same level of discussion we have about other essential infrastructure. Germany, for example, has just committed several hundred billion Euros for improving the country’s infrastructure. Having sufficient clean water, sufficient nutritious food, and a stable climate are essential infrastructure for any country’s future, including for its defenses. However, we don’t see nature in that way yet, and still take her for granted. This might change with recent rulings from the International Court of Justice, requiring countries to address climate change, and with changes in how countries measure national wealth, which now includes the state of natural capital. We are on a better track than we think, and we need the public sector to provide more courageous, clearer policy and market signals, and the private sector to be more bold and open to new public-private partnerships. Mongabay: Why is ecosystem restoration critical for addressing climate change? Tim Christophersen: Mongabay: When I worked for the UN Environment Programme, our team issued a report on the potential of nature-based solutions for climate mitigation. We found that nature can solve about one third of the climate crisis in terms of putting carbon dioxide from the atmosphere back into biomass, soils, and the depth of the ocean. However, that is only part of the story. The other part of climate action from ecosystem restoration is in resilience and adaptation to climate change. We are now in the process of overshooting the 1.5 degree Celsius global warming target of the Paris Agreement. Climate change is upon us. Nature can help us to adapt by securing water, food, and buffer us from extreme weather events. Mangrove forests, for example, are an effective coastal protection against storm surges. They have disappeared from much of their original range, but we can bring them back. Every ecosystem and biome, from peatlands to wetlands, grasslands, forests and the ocean, holds multiple benefits, beyond addressing climate change, for humanity and for all other species if we would restore them at scale. Mongabay: What have you learned from your own regenerative farm in Denmark about restoring nature at a local level? Tim Christophersen: One chapter in the book is about our own farming adventure that started 5 years ago when we bought an old dairy farm, which we are now converting to an agro-forestry permaculture. We are learning new things every day about the life around us that we share the farm with. The biggest learning is that nature works like a flywheel: with critical mass and momentum, it becomes self-stabilizing. Once there is sufficient diversity, nature runs beautifully and in a self-correcting way, producing abundance including a surplus that can be harvested. All we need is diversity, and nature will provide abundance, over time. Industrial farming pushes for the exact opposite. Instead of diversity, we have pushed for simplification. The abundance we seem to see in industrial farming is based on a trick to pump external energy in the form of industrial fertilizers, fossil fuels, and pesticides into the few remaining plant and animal species on factory farms. The model is now coming to a dead end, because the flywheel of nature has almost stopped on those farms. And once it stops, no amount of industrial input can replace soil biodiversity, or the natural equilibrium of nutrients, or the natural carbon and water cycle. What we still need to learn is how to monetize our regenerative form of farming in a way that allows for sufficient income. Some regenerative farms have solved this issue, but it takes time, and initial investment, with higher productivity in the long term. Fortunately, agricultural subsidies are starting to shift towards regenerative agriculture in the EU, though the process is still too slow. Mongabay: Can you share a favorite success story from your time at UNEP or Salesforce where environmental action clearly made a difference? Tim Christophersen: There are many! One of my favorites is the establishment of the Climate Finance Unit in my Team in UNEP’s Ecosystem Division in 2017. At the time, investing in nature conservation and restoration at commercial scale was a rare occasion. The multilateral development banks, including the World Bank Group, were not investing sufficiently in nature, and private finance was not flowing, because it was an unknown asset class with unknown risks. Since 2017, UNEP and the UNEP Finance Initiative have systematically built the foundations for nature as an asset class, together with many others. And we now see the results. UNEP’s State of Finance for Nature annual report, which my team started in 2021, shows that just in the past few years, since 2020, private investments in nature have gone up eleven-fold, to over $100 billion per year. This is still only ten percent of the estimated need to invest in nature, but it is a good start. Another great success story from my time at Salesforce is the Global Mangrove Breakthrough. It started as a small idea to form a coalition in support of the world’s mangroves, and now has well over 100 governments, companies, and all the major NGOs working closely together to achieve a collective finance goal of $4 billion toward the restoration and conservation of 15 million hectares of mangroves. We are proud to be the initial funder of the Breakthrough initiative, and of 12 mangrove projects around the world. Mongabay: What role do you think large technology companies should play in global sustainability? Tim Christophersen: I like working for Salesforce because the company puts its money where its mouth is. In addition to having a $100 million grant fund for nature and sustainability, and being a global leader on decarbonization, we invest significantly in carbon credits from nature-based solutions such as agro-forestry, or mangrove restoration. And our team has a goal to conserve and restore 100 million trees by 2030. I describe in the book some of the main lessons we have learned. As a tech company, we can of course also bring our ‘superpower’ of our technology into the equation for a nature positive world. Through a program called the Agents for Impact Accelerator, we have helped NGOs like the Forest Stewardship Council, Rare, and the Ocean and Risk Resilience Action Alliance to tap into the power of AI to improve and scale their programs. I hope we will see more of the essential capacity building for the nature movement, as we need to ensure this powerful new technology is a force for good. Mongabay: What practical steps can ordinary individuals take to contribute to the restoration of our planet? Tim Christophersen: The main change is first and foremost a change in how we see the world. As agricultural pioneer Don Campbell once put it “‘If you want to make small changes, change the way you do things. If you want to make major changes, change the way you see things.” We are now at a time in history and in climate change where making small changes is no longer enough, so we have to change the way we see nature, and our role in it. So the practical step for everyone is simply to learn more about nature, to be curious, and spend time in nature. To listen and observe, until we understand that we are part of nature, and we live from nature everywhere, all of the time. Once everyone builds a deeper relationship with nature, changes in our actions will come naturally, like eating a more plant-rich, local and seasonal diet, and learning more about ecology. Nature’s rights will be recognized more formally in our laws, instead of seeing all other species as a commodity. And we will more openly acknowledge that other species are closely related to us, and we to them. These changes in our behavior will come on gradually, once we have made the fundamental shift of how we see the role of ourselves on Planet Earth: we are the guardians and gardeners of creation. We are Earth’s most powerful ecosystem engineer. The UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021-2030 marks the beginning of this necessary mindshift. It is an idea whose time has come. As Jane Goodall writes in her foreword, “Let us enter into a new era of moral and spiritual evolution”. Mongabay: What do you mean when you describe our current situation as a “relationship crisis with nature”? Tim Christophersen: The signs of that relationship crisis are all around us. Our global climate, after ten thousand years of relative stability, is spiraling out of control. Ecosystems are imploding. We are now in the sixth planetary mass extinction event – the first one caused by a single species: us. Since the 1970s alone, we have lost about 70 percent of all wildlife populations, according to WWF’s Living Planet Index. If this was a human relationship, I would say we are headed for divorce. But unlike in a human relationship, we cannot divorce from nature, because we cannot live without nature. We have no choice but to repair the relationship, because we otherwise undermine our own well-being and ultimately our survival. What we tend to underestimate in the relationship with nature are the power structures. We believe we are stronger than nature, because we can turn a forest into a parking lot, and cultivate and even genetically modify species. However, nature is infinitely more resourceful, resilient, and patient than we are. So rather than a marriage, our relationship with nature is perhaps more like that of a rebellious child who believes they have it all figured out. In fact, we don’t even play in the same league yet at nature’s ingenuity. And the sooner we recognize how much we still need to learn, the better. Recent advances in ecology are mind-blowing, and show that nature is so much more sophisticated than we ever imagined. It is becoming clear that collaboration and synergies are more important organizing principles of nature than competition, and we need to learn from that. Competition is often mistaken as the inherent main organizing principle of human society, when in fact it should be collaboration. In the book, I trace the philosophical origins behind some of the underlying principles that are at the heart of some of our current challenges. It is fascinating to me that much of the world seems to be on a philosophical autopilot programmed about 300 years ago during the so-called era of ‘Enlightenment’. Mongabay: You advocate that restoring nature is economically beneficial—why then do you think we are still slow to invest in it? Tim Christophersen: Financial institutions like banks and pension funds are not yet investing significantly in nature and ecosystem services because it has not been a well-defined asset class, like real estate or technology, for example. That has made it difficult to correctly price risks and invest at large scale. This situation is now improving due to initiatives like the Responsible Banking Initiative and the Task Force on Nature-related Financial Disclosures, which are helping to establish nature as an investable asset class. The other change we still need is to better recognize ecosystem services, such as clean water, and link their maintenance with the consumers of nature’s goods and services. And finally, we have to stop spending taxpayer money on destroying nature, through harmful subsidies for industrial pesticides and fertilizers, for example. In the case study from Andhra Pradesh in the book, the state government is saving about $1 billion per year in fertilizer subsidies because they have restored soil biodiversity as the main driver of agricultural productivity. The return of their investment comes in the form of more public goods, and monetizing these for private investors has been difficult to date. Fortunately, there are huge strides in technology, including artificial intelligence and in financial technology, to enable the development of high quality nature conservation and restoration projects at large scale, and related significant investments. Mongabay: What do you hope will be the lasting impact of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030)? Tim Christophersen: Ten years are not sufficient to ‘halt and reverse the degradation of ecosystems worldwide’ which is the sweeping goal of the UN Decade. The Decade can trigger awareness and the basic ecological literacy, which I also write about in my book, to lead into a new relationship between humans and nature. I suggest we need a century of ecology to repair our relationship with nature, and the basic life support systems of our common home. Ecology and economy have the same roots in ancient Greek, one is the knowledge of our common home, and the other the management of it. We cannot run a global economy without the fundamental knowledge of ecology. The UN Decade can usher in this century of ecology, and the ecological literacy we need to rediscover a mutually beneficial relationship with nature. And it is already happening. China even made the ‘ecological civilization’ the main focus of their Presidency of the Convention on Biological Diversity. Decision makers are waking up to the fact that we have basically been flying the global economy blind, without ecological knowledge. The good news is that everybody can contribute to our global ecological literacy by getting closer to nature. Mongabay: Which global biodiversity hotspot or ecosystem gives you the greatest concern today, and why? Tim Christophersen: Scientists have identified several planetary-scale ecological tipping points in the climate system, which could shift Earth irreversibly and rather quickly into a different ecological state if they are triggered. They include Greenland and West Antarctic ice sheet meltdown, the widespread dieback of coral reefs, and the thawing of permafrost. The one that worries me the most is the potential of the Amazon basin flipping from a moist tropical rainforest to a savannah woodland, with more frequent droughts and fires. Because it is a tipping point we are fairly close to, and it would not only destroy a lot of unique biodiversity, but also endanger most of South America’s agriculture, and could cause a cascading effect to trigger other tipping points. Fortunately, the current government in Brazil has slowed deforestation rates in the Amazon, as have other countries that share the Amazon basin, and projects like the Arc of Restoration are aiming to bring back millions of hectares of degraded rainforest across the Amazon. The danger of this tipping point for our global civilization is one of the reasons we need the UN Climate Summit in November, COP30, to be a success. It will contribute to turning the tide on ecosystem degradation, and we should all support the government of Brazil in their efforts to have a strong outcome of the Summit. Mongabay: If people could do just one thing to start reconnecting with nature, what would you recommend? Tim Christophersen: Think about what you eat and drink. Your food is your daily dose of nature. Which farms produced it? How do they contribute to restoring nature, or are they rather degrading nature? Where does your water come from? Find out which ecosystems filter and store your drinking water, and how you can better connect with them and protect and restore those ecosystems. Make nature tangible for you. Make your connection with nature count, and build a personal relationship with nature. Nature will answer your queries and your curiosity! We are all part of nature, and that is why we will collectively rise to the challenge to defend and restore nature. Nature is waiting. It is time to come home. Christophersen’s website: TimChristophersen.com Header image: Redwoods in the San Francisco Bay Area in August 2025. Image by Rhett Ayers Butler — Previously Published on news.mongabay with Creative Commons Attribution — Subscribe to The Good Men Project Newsletter Email Address * Subscribe If you believe in the work we are doing here at The Good Men Project, please join us as a Premium Member today. All Premium Members get to view The Good Men Project with NO ADS. Need more info? A complete list of benefits is here. — Photo credit: iStock.com The post Ecosystems as Infrastructure: Tim Christophersen on How to Rebuild Humanity’s Ties to Nature appeared first on The Good Men Project. View the full article

— Homeownership and Stability Homeownership is considered to be a pillar of stability and individual accomplishment. A home to create life, make memories and escape. Yet that stability is on the structure itself. Neglecting the gradual silent indicators of decay and disrepair can make the most valuable thing to you a very costly liability. The key to escape this trap is no secret, it is regular, seasonal maintenance. By addressing minor matters on a year-round basis, you can avoid the type of calamitous breakdowns which translate into four-figure and five-figure repair bills. This is not about taking on a little extra thing to add to the already overloaded to-do list, it is really a matter of being smart and proactive. Think of it as an investment in your home’s future and your own peace of mind. Just by taking a few minutes to check your roof, gutters, heat and air conditioning, and the exterior surfaces about every season you will save yourself a ton of stress and money later. We can deconstruct why this proactive is one of the most responsible things you can do as a homeowner. The Roof is the First Defense of Your Home Your roof is taking the beating of all seasons- scorching summer sun, torrent seasonal rains, autumn leaves, and winter ice. Lacking attention to it is a guaranteed invitation to calamity. Even a little, undetected leakage can cause rotted wood, ruined insulation and a severe mold issue within your walls and attic. Spring Roof Check-Up Once all the winter snow and ice has melted, then it is an excellent time to check on your roof. Find shingles that are curling, cracked or missing. Be careful of the flashing of chimneys, vents, and skylights, which are prone to failure. Any hole that is compromised is an invitation to water to creep in during the heavy spring storms. It is much less expensive to fix these small problems in the early stages such as putting a few shingles, or re-sealing the flashing, than it is to clean up a large amount of water damage. Autumn Preparation Getting rid of debris on your roof before the winter comes is important. Heaps of wet leaves may trap moisture against your shingles causing them to rot at an increased rate and algae or moss to grow. Another visual check is also appropriate now so that you can be sure that your roof can hold the snow and the pressure of ice dams. One needs a sound and properly-maintained roof that will cover all that is beneath the roof. The Unsung Hero: Your Gutter System One of the least considered parts of a home is gutters, but they have a very important role to play. They push thousands of gallons of water off the foundation of your house, its siding and landscaping. Once they are clogged, this water has no place to flow but down your walls and to the ground just beside your foundation. The Dangers of Clogged Gutters During fall and spring, gutters are clogged with leaf, twigs and other debris. Otherwise they will overflow. Such overflow may cause a number of expensive issues: Damage to Foundation:The pooling of water on your foundation may result in foundation cracks as well as water leakages resulting in a wet basement and weakening the structural integrity of your house. Damage to Siding and Masonry:The water continuously dripping down your siding may cause rot in wood, staining in your vinyl siding, and mortar removal in your brick and stone. Ice Dams:This occurs when gutters blocked with ice in winter form ice dams. Melted snow accumulates, refreezes at the overhang of your roof, and may cause considerable damage by pressing water up under your shingles. Washing your gutters at least two times a year, once in late spring and once in late fall, is the job that cannot be compromised. It is a non-complicated, preventive measure that can avoid a chain of costly, and complicated fixes. Breathing Easy: Maintenance of HVAC Systems The core of comfort in your home is your heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. It labours so hard to ensure you are cool during summer, and warm during winter. It is like any complex machine that needs frequent tune ups to run effectively and continually. Such neglect will cause not only increased energy expenses but also the danger of a total failure of the entire system, when it is most needed, usually in the most extreme weather. Biannual Professional Check-Ups Have your air conditioner and furnace serviced by a professional in the spring and the fall respectively. A technician will also clean the parts, verify the levels of refrigerant and electrical contacts and verify that the system is in optimum operation. This preventive maintenance will save your unit life, increase the efficiency of your operation, and will save you the panic attacks of the mid-summer air conditioner malfunction or the freezing of your unit on the lowest night of the winter. One thing you can easily change on your own is to replace the air filter once in 1-3 months. When the filter becomes clogged, the system will have to labor more, increasing your energy usage and unnecessary stress to the motor. Keeping Your Curb Appeal and Structural Integrity Your home and the roof, as well as inner mechanisms, are as important as the exterior. As time passes, your siding, driveway, and walkways collect a coating of dirt, algae, mold, and mildew. This accumulation goes beyond being something unpleasant to look at; it may have actual, permanent harm. Mold or mildew may dissolve paint and building siding materials and algae can cause walking paths and driveways to be very slippy. This grime is able to trap moisture which may speed up the rotting of wood and dissolve the mortar between bricks. It is here that professional cleaning plays the crucial role of seasonal maintenance. Residential driveway and siding power washing services in Indianapolis IN may be among the widest decisions that homeowners make in order to safeguard their investment. A professional clean eliminates the damaging contaminants, regaining the look of your home and eliminating the wear and tear of the exterior surfaces of your buildings. This lowly thing might save your siding, your concrete, and your brick. Being in Charge of the Health of Your Home A responsible homeowner also involves changing your mindset to stop reacting but rather be proactive. You do not have to wait until the ceiling leaks, the basement gets flooded, or the AC goes out to start doing something about it. When you combine these seasonal maintenance activities with your annual routine, you are not only doing any chores, you are literally safeguarding your biggest investment. An inspection of the roof, the gutters, a professional service to your HVAC and exterior, a weekend is a tip you reap the benefits many times over. It spares you the economic induction of finding yourself in the situation of having to make hefty repairs to your house whose causes remain unknown and the invaluable peace of mind that comes with the knowledge that your home is safe, secure, and in a good condition. — This content is brought to you by Sky Link Building iStockPhoto The post The Role of Seasonal Maintenance in Preventing Costly Repairs appeared first on The Good Men Project. View the full article

We expect love to be loud. We think it will come in grand gestures — roses, confessions, fireworks. But more often, it’s hidden in moments so small you almost miss them. Neuroscience calls it micro-affection: the unconscious, almost automatic ways we signal care. Your brain recognizes these cues faster than your mind can process them — which is why sometimes you “just know” someone loves you, even before they’ve said a word. … 1. They Remember the Small Stuff Not your birthday or your favorite color — anyone can do that. They remember how you take your coffee, the exact way you laugh when you’re tired, the name of the song you hummed months ago. It’s their way of saying: I see you. I keep you in mind even when you’re not here. … 2. They Tilt Their Body Toward You A subtle one, but powerful. When someone loves you, their body naturally turns toward yours — shoulders, knees, even feet. It’s called proxemics, the science of personal space. Love makes people want to close the gap. … 3. They Notice Your Silence Anyone can listen when you talk. But the ones who love you? They notice when you stop. They hear the pause, the shift in tone, and ask, “Are you okay?” — not to fix you, but to stand beside you in the quiet. … 4. They Adjust for Your Comfort Pulling the blanket higher when you’re half-asleep. Switching sides of the street because the sun is in your eyes. Slowing their pace so you can keep up. It’s their way of saying: Your ease matters to me more than my own convenience. … 5. They Share Their Last Bite Anthropologists say food sharing is one of the oldest human bonding rituals. When they offer you the last fry, the bigger slice, or their favorite piece, they’re sending a primal message: I want you to have the best of what I have. … 6. They Mirror Your Mood Without Realizing Watch closely — do they light up when you’re excited? Do they frown when you’re worried? This isn’t just empathy — it’s called emotional contagion. When love runs deep, your emotional state becomes a shared experience. … 7. They Show Up Not just for the big moments, but for the in-between ones — the airport drop-offs, the late-night phone calls, the “just checking on you” texts. Because love isn’t always about doing something special. It’s about being there, consistently. … The Quiet Truth Love doesn’t always announce itself with a bang. Sometimes it’s just a coffee placed in your hand, a blanket tucked under your chin, a “text me when you get home.” If you pay attention, you’ll see that the loudest declarations of love are often whispered. — This post was previously published on medium.com. Love relationships? We promise to have a good one with your inbox. Subcribe to get 3x weekly dating and relationship advice. Did you know? We have 8 publications on Medium. Join us there! Hello, Love (relationships) Change Becomes You (Advice) A Parent is Born (Parenting) Equality Includes You (Social Justice) Greener Together (Environment) Shelter Me (Wellness) Modern Identities (Gender, etc.) Co-Existence (World) *** – Photo credit: Timo Stern on Unsplash The post 7 Tiny Ways People Show They Love You (Without Saying It Out Loud) appeared first on The Good Men Project. View the full article

— Learning about your ancestry can offer deep meaning. However, sharing such information with your parents must be done tactfully and with a plan. This is not only a matter of fact. It involves dealing with feelings, respecting boundaries, and fostering connection. This article provides practical tips on navigating these discussions. Respect family history conversations, valuing your parents’ opinions and memories. Preparing for the Conversation: Mindset and Research Taking time to prepare the ground before any conversation is held is necessary. This preparation can be useful in making the conversation constructive and respectful to all parties. Know Your Goals Understand your motivation for giving such information. Is it to bond, gain medical history, or preserve stories? Knowing your primary motivation guides the discussion. It maintains a positive conversation and does not overburden your parents. You must know what you would like to achieve. Gather Facts Present your findings in an organized fashion. Begin with the most informative or provable fact. Determine the gaps or sensitive areas. Make yourself willing to admit that you are in these uncertainties. Furthermore, do not present speculations as facts. Some people explore records on platforms such as MyHeritage. However, they should keep in mind that these are starting points for discussion, not final truths. Weigh the Emotions Think about how your parents might react to receiving this information. Could this news make them happy, confused, sad, or resistant due to past experiences? Considering their feelings helps you talk with more empathy. It prepares you to respond in a supportive way. Choosing Your Approach How and when you begin this conversation significantly influences its outcome. The right environment and opening can make parents feel safe and respected. Finding the Right Moment Take a peaceful, private moment free from distractions and without a deadline. Avoid family gatherings or stressful times. For instance, a quiet afternoon at home gives a relaxed feeling. This creates openness and attempts to reduce defensiveness. Ensure that you spend sufficient time engaging in a purposeful conversation. Opening Lines That Invite Collaboration Start gently. Invite them to explore together, not to present final truths. Use phrases like, “I have looked into our family background and found some interesting things. Would you be open to talking about it sometime?” or “I found some info about Grandpa’s side. Could I share it with you and hear your thoughts?” This sets a collaborative tone and effectively starts the family history talk. Navigating Resistance or Hesitation If parents seem hesitant, don’t push them. Acknowledge their feelings. You might say, “I understand this is unexpected or brings up a lot.” Trust can be created by respecting their pace. And you can delicately raise the subject again at a later date in case it seems appropriate. Tools and Techniques for Sharing Your Findings Sharing your discoveries turns a solo performance into an engaging conversation. Focus on connecting with your parents and valuing their insights. Presenting Information as a Starting Point Introduce your findings tentatively. Use phrases like, “I found this record suggesting…” or “This photo album shows… what do you remember?” Position information as clues or prompts for discussion, not definitive conclusions. This invites their knowledge and corrections. Interactive Methods to Engage Parents Make the conversation real. Use maps, pictures, heirlooms, or documents as visual aids. Proposing a joint family tree initiative may be especially useful. Working on it together provides a neutral, constructive focus and visualizes connections. Frame it as, “I thought we could start mapping this out together; your memories are the key pieces.” Documenting Their Reflections and Stories Stay active and interested when they express their memories and opinions. The queries should be open-ended to get elaborate answers. As an example, you may ask the question, “What was your grandma like?” Consider taking notes or recording stories after seeking permission. Emphasize that their personal stories are invaluable for completing the picture. Sharing family history sensitively means prioritizing their lived experiences over documents. Transforming Insight into Shared Legacy The conversation’s value extends beyond the initial sharing. It’s about preserving meaning and deciding how this knowledge lives on for future generations. Deciding Together What to Preserve and How There are many ways to save stories and information. Try digital archives, scrapbooks, written stories, or audio recordings. Never go beyond what they want to keep or share. This is a collaborative effort, so you can feel a sense of belonging. Research by the Pew Research Center shows that knowing your family history makes you who you are. That’s how important family memories are. Handling New Information: Continuing the Dialogue Frame this as an ongoing journey, not a single conversation. Let them know if you discover more and gauge their interest in future updates. Say, “I might find more details later. Would you like me to share anything new with you?” Keeping the door open respects their ongoing role. Honoring Sensitive or Complex Histories Some discoveries may involve hardship, loss, or unexpected truths. Acknowledge these complexities with compassion. Avoid judgment and focus on understanding the context and resilience involved. Not all family roots are easy; honoring them means acknowledging the full spectrum of experiences with respect. Navigating Challenges in Family Discussions An obstacle may apply to discussions even when one is prepared. Boundaries and patience are paramount factors to respect. Responding To Skepticism or Emotional Pushback If parents question findings or react strongly, stay calm. Confirm their perspective: “I see this is surprising/upsetting for you.” Reiterate your sources without being confrontational. Focus on their perspective and not on having to be correct. Sometimes, just being listened to resolves the tension. What If Parents Reject The Information? Acceptance isn’t guaranteed. Your parents can ignore the facts, or they might refuse to discuss the issue; do not judge them. You could say, “This might be hard to take in. I’ll leave this with you to look at when you’re ready.” Transform the meaning of success: plant a seed, not a forced belief. Their comfort level determines the pace, which may not be there at all. The Ripple Effect: How Understanding Roots Strengthens Bonds Participating in discussions about family backgrounds has a lot to offer. It’s more than just completing a family tree. It brings a greater connection and greater understanding. Fostering Intergenerational Empathy A common ancestry creates a rich pattern of family relationships and customs. Parents have untold stories, hidden gems that can be found. These stories give new information about their lives and decisions. This exchange brings empathy, closes generation gaps, and develops understanding. Preserving Family Memories These talks capture unique oral history and personal stories that documents can’t show. Recording these tales creates a lasting legacy. They share unique family stories and identities. This helps future generations understand their roots better. Conclusion Talking with parents about family roots sparks ongoing conversations. Sharing discoveries builds bridges, regardless of the emotions they bring. Focus on empathy and connection, not accuracy or correction. This honors your shared legacy. What matters is making room for future talks, not finding quick answers. Start the conversation, and you might discover more than just your history. — This content is brought to you by Rana Adnan iStockPhoto The post How to Share Information about Your Roots with Your Parents appeared first on The Good Men Project. View the full article

By Keaton Ross and Sierra Pfeifer The John H. Lilley Correctional Center doesn’t scream high-tech. The men’s minimum-security prison, built in 1925 as the Oklahoma State School for Incorrigible Negro Boys and repurposed in the early 1980s to accommodate adult offenders, sits among soft rolling hills and cattle farms. One-third of its 825 prisoners are elderly or medically frail, with many requiring wheelchairs or walkers to get from their dormitory-style bunk beds to the chow hall. It’s one of 23 state prisons that Department of Corrections Executive Director Steven Harpe envisions as the next frontier for artificial intelligence. “We’ve got facility needs,” Harpe said. “We have a lot of old buildings. But right now, we are undergoing a transformation that we’re going to invest money on.” The revolution Harpe envisions includes drones sweeping the perimeter of prison yards for contraband, artificial intelligence programs to monitor phone calls and other technology he said will eliminate mundane administrative work from staff responsibilities. Harpe said he sees artificial intelligence as the future, with Oklahoma uniquely positioned to incorporate it into public safety initiatives. Critics questioned the reliability of the technology and said the effort could shift focus from other agency goals like boosting staff recruitment. Gov. Kevin Stitt appointed Harpe to lead Oklahoma’s prison system in October 2022. Before entering state service as the director of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services in 2019, Harpe’s previous professional experience was in the technology sector, with stints at companies such as CGI, Capital One, HireRight and HP. He traveled to Washington, D.C. in July at a congressional briefing on behalf of the American Correctional Association and said his background has made him the go-to guy for all things AI. Efforts to incorporate AI into state prisons have already begun. Correctional officers statewide began wearing body cameras in October. In March, the Department of Corrections signed a one-year, $1.07 million contract with Texas-based Leo Technologies, LLC, to automatically transcribe phone conversations in near real-time and alert staff to security risks. John H. Lilley is one of seven prisons selected to incorporate the Verus system, which has been implemented at a handful of state prisons and county jails nationwide. Staff can select certain keywords for flagging, such as “kill” or “snitch.” Developers say the technology is unbiased, with staff unable to filter results based on race, ethnicity, religion or sexual preference. Perhaps the most aspirational technology would use strategically placed cameras to automatically conduct prisoner counts. Harpe said the camera system could eventually be used to gather other data, such as gang affiliation, and even identify prisoners experiencing mental health problems. “What if I was able to take that labor [for prisoner counts] and instead of using people to do it, I was using facial recognition AI, not just one time, but use it all the time,” Harpe said during a July 11 Congressional briefing on AI in public safety. “I always know where they are. You get logistics of who’s talking to who. Technology now exists where you can look at a body in real-time and tell if you’re carrying something, if you have something stowed somewhere on you. It also lets us do really cool things like suicide prevention.” Bryan Duke, a sergeant at John H. Lilley, said he has concerns about using AI to conduct counts. He walks through the dorm-style rooms of the prison with a list of names clipped to a wooden clipboard and pen in his hands. “You’re going to run into problems there,” he said. “I’m not computer smart anyway, but I’d rather do a paper count. When you do a paper count, you’re physically counting everybody that’s here.” Duke said a count will usually take 15 to 20 minutes, depending on the officer. The day shift has three counts, at 10 a.m., 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. The night shift counts prisoners once per hour after lights out. Privacy Risks, Cost Scrutinized Staff and prisoners alike laud the correctional officer body cameras as an effective accountability tool. The technology hasn’t caught on as quickly in corrections as policing, as prisons and jails are equipped with closed-circuit camera systems, but proponents argue the devices help fill in blind spots and provide audio of encounters. “It’s like an eye in the sky,” John H. Lilley prisoner Cortez Elston said. He said he appreciates that the cameras are always rolling, regardless of whether the officer manually activates the device. But some experts are skeptical of the agency’s full-sprint push to implement other technology, including an Oklahoma prison staff advocate, a researcher and a state lawmaker. Bobby Cleveland, a former state representative and executive director of the Oklahoma Corrections Professionals group, said he doesn’t doubt that drones and more cameras could assist prison staff. But he said the technology won’t alleviate a prison staffing shortage that’s been linked to violence at multiple facilities. “Who’s going to look at those cameras?” Cleveland said. “It can’t do it all on its own.” Oklahoma’s correctional staffing levels dropped 7.6% from June 2021 to June 2025, according to budget documents presented to the Board of Corrections. The Department of Corrections reported having funding to fill nearly 300 vacant correctional officer positions. “I just think it’s a way for him to talk about all these good things he can get, when he can’t even handle what he’s got,” Cleveland said. Beryl Lipton is a senior investigative researcher at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a San Francisco-based digital rights group. She said the organization is concerned AI technology would create a biometric profile of an individual in order to count or track them, which could follow them after release. There have also been problems with AI call monitoring in places such as Alabama, where the technology was programmed to alert staff to words like “abogado” and “abogada,” Spanish for attorney. “Sometimes people speak in another language,” Lipton said. “They have an accent. Those are things that are likely not going to be easily captured by a transcription service. And we worry about what inaccurate transcriptions can mean for people’s due process.” Rep. Tom Gann, R-Inola, has been the Legislature’s most vocal critic of automated license plate readers. He said he fears technology tested behind prison walls could be deployed into public settings. “Whatever capability is exercised within the prison walls can be applied outside,” he said. “That’s the issue there. The technology is so pervasive.” Harpe acknowledged the importance of mitigating bias and pairing the technology with human expertise. He said his department thoroughly vets all the vendors it contracts with. “I don’t care if it’s proprietary or not,” he said. “We can sign NDAs, but we get in-depth on every solution that we utilize to make sure that it’s going to meet, I guess, the expectations of Oklahomans.” Evolving Regulations Lieutenant Jeffrey Hawman said the technology that would be most useful for his staff in Boley has been around since the 1990s but is outlawed under federal law. “The only reason to use a cell phone is to conduct illicit activities,” Hawman said. Hawman said cell phone jammers top his technology wish list. He said cell phones get into the facility from visitors, people throwing bags over the razor-wire prison walls and leaving packages at a nearby farm where some prisoners work. Federal regulators have long banned cell phone jammers, including in prisons and jails, because of their potential to interfere with legitimate communications such as 911 calls, but that could change. A coalition of 31 state attorneys general, including Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond, is pushing Congress to pass legislation that would allow cell phone jammers in housing areas of prisons and jails. Measures were introduced in the U.S. House and Senate in March but haven’t received a vote in either chamber. “The proliferation of illegal cell phones in our prison systems represents a serious public safety threat to Oklahomans,” Drummond said in a Mar. 26 statement. “These devices are not just communication tools for inmates, but dangerous instruments that enable criminal activities that extend far beyond prison walls and directly impact our communities.” Federal rule changes will also be required to allow all of the anti-drone technology Harpe wants to use. Current regulations authorize prison and jail officials to deploy passive drone-detection devices, but they can’t shoot down or interfere with a device in flight. Prison staff flying drones over facilities must comply with a lengthy list of FAA rules. The stakes of not expanding counter-drone technology in state prisons are high, Harpe said, referencing a June 2024 incident in a Georgia state prison where a prisoner killed a kitchen employee with a smuggled gun. Investigators suspect the gun was dropped into the facility via drone. “There are a lot of real-world things going on now that have forced our hand to be involved,” he said. As technology advances, Lipton said state and federal lawmakers and regulators will have to balance perceived security threats with protecting individual privacy. She said the data collected behind bars could outlive a person’s prison sentence if sufficient safeguards aren’t implemented. “Creating a biometric profile of individuals, whether or not they’re in prison, is incredibly invasive,” she said. “If people are implementing those types of technologies in prison, there has to be a very clear policy and a real guarantee this information is not going anywhere.” Gann, the state lawmaker from Inola, said he fears the technology could skirt constitutional protections and unduly implicate people. But the quick rate of technological advancement and agency adoption can make developing AI regulation difficult. “Legislatively, it’s no man’s land,” he said. “There’s not anything out here guiding law enforcement in what they can do, and the restriction that’s out there is being totally ignored. We just need to get it all out in the open and work through this.” Harpe warned against too much regulation from federal or state officials. He said bad actors will have access to advanced technology either way, and his department needs to be able to respond. “We tend to get afraid of these things, and then we pull levers too far back,” he said. “And then the tools that could be useful are no longer available.” This story was the result of a collaboration between Oklahoma Watch and public radio station KOSU. This article first appeared on Oklahoma Watch and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. — “Oklahoma Watch, at oklahomawatch.org, is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that covers public-policy issues facing the state.” with Creative Commons License *** Join The Good Men Project as a Premium Member today. All Premium Members get to view The Good Men Project with NO ADS. A complete list of benefits is here. — Photo credit: Lieutenant Jeffrey Hawman opens the body camera storage locker at the John H. Lilley Correctional Facility in Boley on Aug. 8, 2025. (Sierra Pfeifer/KOSU) The post As Oklahoma Prisons Embrace AI, Critics Warn of Risks appeared first on The Good Men Project. View the full article

Fuel for Kiev’s long-range weapon will reportedly be made on Danish soil The fuel for Ukraine’s new Flamingo long-range cruise missile will be produced in Denmark, broadcaster DR reported on Thursday, citing a government memo. The facility will reportedly be located near the Skrydstrup air base in the south of the country and owned by FPRT, a subsidiary of the Ukrainian company Fire Point. According to Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky, the weapon, unveiled last month, can travel up to 3,000 kilometers – far enough to reach Siberia. Mass production is not expected for several months, he said. Denmark is expected to pass a law next week granting the Ukrainian company exemptions from certain regulations and immunity from civil complaints, DR said. Production is scheduled to begin on December 1. Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen previously stated that Ukrainian weapons manufacturers are “on the way” to starting production on Danish soil. British media have questioned whether the Flamingo was actually developed in Ukraine, pointing to similarities with the British-made FP-5 cruise missile unveiled earlier this year. Fire Point is also reportedly facing a probe by Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau over suspicions of misleading the government on pricing and deliveries. Russia has repeatedly said that no amount of foreign aid to Kiev would stop its troops, and has listed the halt of arms deliveries to Ukraine among its conditions for a ceasefire. View the full article

By Matt Shipman-NC State In proof-of-concept testing with synthetic skin, the researchers demonstrated that the patches could collect biomarker samples over periods ranging from 15 minutes to 24 hours. “Biomarkers are measurable indicators of biological processes, which can help us monitor health and diagnose medical conditions,” says Michael Daniele of North Carolina State University, corresponding author of a paper on the work. “The vast majority of conventional biomarker testing relies on taking blood samples. In addition to being unpleasant for most people, blood samples also pose challenges for health professionals and technology developers. That’s because blood is a complex system, and you need to remove the platelets, red blood cells, and so on before you can test the relevant fluid. “The patch we’ve developed uses microneedles to sample the fluid that surrounds cells in the dermal and epidermal layers just below the very top layer of cells that make up your skin,” says Daniele, who is a professor of electrical engineering at NC State and in the biomedical engineering department at NC State and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. “This is called dermal interstitial fluid (ISF), and it contains almost all of the same biomarkers found in blood. What’s more, ISF makes for a ‘cleaner’ sample—it doesn’t need to be processed the way blood does before you can test it. Essentially, it streamlines the biomarker testing process.” Specifically, Daniele and his collaborators have made a fully passive microneedle patch that doesn’t rely on either batteries or external energy sources to take or store ISF samples. Here’s how it works. The patch consists of four layers: a polymer “housing”—which is effectively the part of the patch you can see; a layer of gel; a layer of paper; and the microneedles themselves. The microneedles are made of a material that swells when it touches the ISF. The ISF wicks through the microneedle—like water through a paper towel—until it comes into contact with the paper. As the paper begins absorbing the ISF, the fluid comes into contact with the gel that is on the other side of the paper. That gel contains a high concentration of glycerol. The imbalance of glycerol between the gel and the ISF creates osmotic pressure that pulls more ISF through the paper until the paper is saturated. “The paper is where the ISF is stored,” Daniele says. “When you take the patch off, you remove the paper strip and analyze the sample.” The researchers tested the patch on two synthetic skin models. “It worked well,” Daniele says. “The patches collected measurable results in as little as 15 minutes and were capable of storing the biomarker samples for at least 24 hours.” For the proof-of-concept testing, the researchers monitored for cortisol—which is a biomarker for stress that fluctuates over the course of the day. “That means it’s something people may want to monitor multiple times a day without having to draw blood repeatedly,” Daniele says. “And there’s no reason the patch wouldn’t work for many of the biomarkers found in ISF.” Another attractive aspect of the patches is that they’re made from relatively inexpensive materials that are widely available. “The highest cost of the patches would be manufacturing the microneedles, but we think the price would be competitive with the costs associated with blood testing,” Daniele says. “Drawing blood requires vials, needles, and—usually—a phlebotomist. The patch doesn’t require any of those things.” The researchers have already begun human testing with the patches and are developing electronic devices to “read” the paper strip from the microneedle patch. “We’ve already developed an electronic device that can ‘read’ cortisol levels from the paper strip and are working on another device that evaluates a different biomarker,” Daniele says. “We’re now looking for industry partners on two fronts. We’d love to talk with companies in the diagnostic space to explore additional applications, and we’d also like to talk with potential partners about scaling up production.” The paper appears in the journal Lab on a Chip. Support for this work came from the National Science Foundation’s Center for Advanced Self-Powered Systems of Sensors and Technologies (ASSIST), the NC State Institute for Connected Sensor-Systems, the Chancellor’s Innovation Fund at NC State, and SEMI-NBMC. Daniele is an officer and founder of DermiSense, Inc. (Cary, NC), which commercializes microneedle-based technologies. Source: North Carolina State University Original Study DOI: 10.1039/D5LC00590F — Previously Published on futurity.org with Creative Commons License *** – The world is changing fast. We help you keep up. We’ll send you 1 post, 3x per week. Join The Good Men Project as a Premium Member today. All Premium Members get to view The Good Men Project with NO ADS. Need more info? A complete list of benefits is here. — Photo credit: NC State The post Patch Monitors Health Without Drawing Blood appeared first on The Good Men Project. View the full article

— Known for its unique blend of cowboy culture and modern city living, Fort Worth is one of the fastest-growing cities in Texas. From its vibrant arts scene and historic Stockyards to major employers and top-rated universities, it’s easy to see why people are flocking to live here. But just like in any large city, safety is a top concern when it comes to choosing a neighborhood. Whether you’re moving with your family, relocating for work, or buying your first home, finding a safe area is probably at the top of your list. So, how do you go about choosing the safest neighborhoods in Fort Worth to live in? Here’s a guide to help you make a smart, informed decision. 1. Do Your Homework on Crime Rates Start by looking up local crime data. Fort Worth has areas that are statistically much safer than others, and this information is publicly available. You can use resources like: Fort Worth Police Department Crime Mapping Tool These platforms give you access to up-to-date reports on everything from violent crimes to property theft. Look for areas with consistently low crime rates and good reputations. 2. Visit the Neighborhood at Different Times Online research is helpful, but nothing beats actually visiting the area yourself. Walk or drive through potential neighborhoods during the day and at night. Pay attention to: Street lighting and visibility The condition of homes and yards How active the neighborhood is (Are people out walking dogs? Are kids playing outside?) These subtle cues can tell you a lot about how safe a place feels, and whether residents take pride in their community. 3. Talk to Locals and Neighbors If you’re seriously considering a neighborhood, try to strike up conversations with people who already live there. Ask about their experience with crime, how responsive the police are, and whether they feel safe walking around after dark. You can also check local social media groups or neighborhood apps to get unfiltered feedback. 4. Check for Nearby Amenities and Emergency Services Living near well-lit public areas, good schools, hospitals, and active police or fire stations can significantly impact your overall sense of safety. Fort Worth has many neighborhoods with close access to: Emergency services Grocery stores and pharmacies Parks and recreation centers Areas that are well-served by amenities tend to be better maintained and safer overall. 5. Look at School Ratings (Even If You Don’t Have Kids) School quality often correlates with neighborhood safety. In Fort Worth, areas with highly rated public or private schools generally have more community involvement and lower crime. Even if you don’t have children, this is a good indicator of a stable, family-friendly environment. 6. Hire a Local Real Estate Agent Local agents know the city’s layout better than anyone else. They can provide insight into up-and-coming areas, places to avoid, and neighborhoods with long-term stability. A good agent will help you balance safety with affordability and other lifestyle needs. Key Takeaways Fort Worth is a growing city with a wide range of neighborhoods—some are safer than others, so research is crucial. Use crime maps and online tools to compare neighborhoods and spot trends. Visit neighborhoods in person and observe their condition and activity levels. Talk to residents to get real-world perspectives on safety and community involvement. Look for proximity to schools, emergency services, and amenities, which often correlate with safer areas. Even if you don’t have kids, school quality is a good indicator of neighborhood safety and stability. A trusted local real estate agent can save you time and help you make a well-informed decision. Finding the safest place to live in Fort Worth isn’t just about avoiding crime—it’s about choosing a community where you feel comfortable, connected, and secure. With the right tools and a bit of legwork, you’ll be well on your way to finding a neighborhood that fits your needs and gives you peace of mind. — This content is brought to you by Hassan Javed iStockPhoto The post How to Choose the Safest Neighborhoods in Fort Worth to Live In appeared first on The Good Men Project. View the full article

The Volunteer says life in his home country felt “very empty” A British national fighting with the Russian army against Ukraine has told RT that life in his home country felt “problematic.” The man, who did not reveal his identity, spoke from the trenches while wearing a balaclava and a cap with a Soviet flag. “I do have many reasons why I am here. Unfortunately, my country is very problematic for myself and many other citizens,” he said. “I suppose the simple premise is I am looking for a better life. Our life feels very empty.” “Why [do] we continue to provide to a country that just simply doesn’t provide to us?” the soldier asked. He added that he was moved by the hospitality of ordinary Russians. “I genuinely can’t say a bad thing about the Russian people,” he said. Volunteers from the US and several European countries have joined the Russian army since 2022. In April, the channel Rossiya-1 broadcast interviews with French volunteers in Donbass. View the full article

By Amy “frankie” Felegy What do you want to be when you grow up? “To be leaders, to show the right path,” Mike Laverdure hopes today’s teens will say—and he’s guiding them to that dream. Laverdue, an architect and owner of DSJW and First American Design Studio, co-founded Indigenous Design Camp. It’s a free, week-long summer intensive for Native high school students. The volunteer-run camp, which is the first of its kind in the U.S., wrapped up its second year in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Throughout the week, the teenagers set up (day) camp at Dunwoody College of Technology’s architecture studios. They created projects and models using scale and measurements; they checked out the University of Minnesota’s architecture program and learned from Indigenous architecture; and Native designers visited and presented. I was surprised how few Native architects there are. It made me want to change that. –PARTICIPANT, INDIGENOUS DESIGN CAMP “I think a lot of us on reservations don’t get to see that. We only see a few different careers. . .we don’t see architects, we don’t see landscape architects, we don’t see interior designers. We don’t even run into a lot of engineers,” Laverdure says, noting there are only about two dozen Native architects in the whole country. “And 20 years from now, there’ll be hundreds.” He and the Indigenous Design Camp crew are starting small: Last year, around 10 kids participated. That’s just about doubled this summer. Co-founder Jessica Garcia Fritz is an assistant professor and an architectural educator. The citizen of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe says the camp lets these students—and over a dozen architects—gather in community. “I also see the camp as an alternative and a way to build a collective of Indigenous architects and designers who may view the environment, and certainly the built environment, in a different way—one that needs to be stewarded, taken care of,” she says. Students at the camp learn about Indigenous design principles. Garcia Fritz says they contrast western architecture’s often destructive and exclusive nature. “It’s not looking at dominance over the land, dominance of relationships. I think that it’s—and this has always been a part of our cultures—looking at working with relationships, working with the land,” Garcia Fritz says. Another co-founder and architect, Sam Olbekson of the White Earth Nation, says this camp helps students see themselves in not only architecture, but the architecture they create. It’s about sovereignty. “It’s my first time doing anything architectural—I’m excited to get that hands-on experience,” a participant from Elk River, Minnesota, shared on the camp’s website. “To design for themselves, to speak for themselves, to create the ideas and concepts,” Olbekson says. “They don’t see boxes. They see the shapes, the colors, the patterns, the symbols when appropriate, or not. That makes them feel at home.” Indigenous Design Camp can be a major catalyst for many of these aspiring students, Laverdure says. “Because as Native architects and designers, we’re the ones who really are the change makers and the nation builders for our tribes,” he says. “So to me, it is just kind of that first initial step into creating an environment where we take control of our own progress, our own generations, our own future.” — This story was originally published by Arts Midwest, a non-profit amplifying Midwestern creativity with Creative Commons License *** Does dating ever feel challenging, awkward or frustrating? Turn Your Dating Life into a WOW! with our new classes and live coaching. Click here for more info or to buy with special launch pricing! *** On Substack? Follow us there for more great dating and relationships content. Join The Good Men Project as a Premium Member today. All Premium Members get to view The Good Men Project with NO ADS. A $50 annual membership gives you an all access pass. You can be a part of every call, group, class and community. A $25 annual membership gives you access to one class, one Social Interest group and our online communities. A $12 annual membership gives you access to our Friday calls with the publisher, our online community. Register New Account Log in if you wish to renew an existing subscription. Username Email First Name Last Name Password Password Again Choose your subscription level Annual Platinum - $50.00 - 1 Year Annual Gold - $25.00 - 1 Year Annual Bronze - $12.00 - 1 Year Credit / Debit Card PayPal Choose Your Payment Method Auto Renew By completing this registration form, you are also agreeing to our Terms of Service which can be found here. Need more info? A complete list of benefits is here. — Photo credit: unsplash The post Designing the Future: Indigenous Camp Inspires Young Architects appeared first on The Good Men Project. View the full article

The drama unfolds in a decaying family home on the outskirts of industrial sprawl, plagued by leaking factories and spanning over four decades. It confronts environmental injustice and the legacies of trauma across generations of one embattled family, blending realism with surreal, symbolic elements such as talking animals and ghostly visitations. As the family story unfolds, I found emotional and conceptual resonance. It served as a powerful analogy for climate anxiety, exploring the obligations we owe each other across generations. Joyah Dominique’s performance as Melissa was a compelling portrayal, capturing her vibrant and humorous energy. Kendyl Davis’s portrayal of Fran was equally impressive, showcasing her haunting yet grounded presence across multiple timelines. Daniel Prosky’s evocative lived-in set design, Sam Weiser’s lighting to mark time, and Sid Diamond’s haunting soundscape create an immersive and layered emotional experience. However, the structural clarity suffers behind the non-linear narrative and symbolic devices (deer, whale, ghosts) that I found distracting. Sometimes, the story felt muddled or underdeveloped, leaving me with the impression that the early preview performance I attended was not fully realized. While the absurd elements bolster the surrealism, they occasionally verge into the arbitrary. I would like to rewatch later performances as it felt more like a workshop draft, with earnest ideas overshadowed by narrative incoherence. Despite these flaws, the play’s genre-blurring, time-slipping storytelling was at times gently revelatory and emotionally rich, rather than didactic. I appreciated Playwright Rishi Varma‘s subtle blend of humor, love, and despair. Sulfur Bottom is a dreamlike and haunting production that delves into the environmental crisis and its impact on generations. The characters are well-crafted and the staging is effective, but the lack of collective resistance undermines its environmental messaging. The play is a poignant metaphor for climate trauma and the choices made by our ancestors. The performances are strong, particularly from Dominiqus and Davis, and the atmospheric staging and design enhance the emotional impact of the production. However, the lack of narrative clarity sometimes feels like an abstraction. The absurdist elements, time jumps, and ghostly visitations occasionally feel disconnected, disrupting the flow of the story. The absence of a unified response or broader movement leaves me wanting more. While it’s a great introduction to the subject of environmental justice, I felt it only scratched the surface. As a part of Climate Week NYC, Sulfur Bottom has the potential to be a great opportunity to teach and learn about Climate Activism and Environmental Justice within context of Talk Backs and post-performance moderated discussions. Despite these flaws, Sulfur Bottom is a daring and emotionally resonant piece. It paints a haunting portrait of environmental devastation, family loyalty, and fractured legacies. The blend of the mundane and the surreal invites deep reflection, especially in light of our growing climate anxiety. If you’re drawn to bold theatrical storytelling, atmospheric staging, and performances that linger long after the curtain falls, this production offers much to explore. On the other hand, if you prefer tighter plotting, more clarity, or a firmer narrative arc, some of the symbolic flourishes and tonal shifts might feel fragmentary or underdeveloped. Ultimately, Sulfur Bottom is a memorable, if imperfect, exploration of what it means to be trapped in a place that may be killing you. Playwright: Rishi Varma Director: Megumi Nakamura Venue: Jerry Orbach Theater at The Theater Center, New York Running Time: Approximately 90 minutes, no intermission Dates: Previews began August 13, opening August 20, closes October 11 The post Off Broadway Review: Sulfur Bottom appeared first on The Good Men Project. View the full article

… Are you dreaming? How often do you see yourself somewhere else? Does it warm the center of you, even when you’re centered in a cold, dark world? But more importantly… How much closer are you than you were yesterday? Last month? Last year? What if you knew exactly why your dream is still a dream? Want to know the difficult part of this? I realized that, while I’m more ‘in it’ than years before, I’m actually not tangibly closer. What does that mean then? Is it the unseeable progress…or is it no progress at all? … Sometimes… Just sometimes…I can steal my attention away from what ‘needs to be done’, and into a state of mind that is a strictly objective reality. It’s a new skill actually. *proud pat on the butt* A very inconsistent and frustrating one though. But it has a great purpose. It helps me fight The Resistance. What that skill actually is: It’s the literal ability to see what’s around me, without my mind wandering to financial stability, status, mental health, isolation, comparison to others, success — and focusing on my closest and most real environment. It’s the size of my apartment, the feel of fabric on my skin, the silence of 6 a.m., the 100,000 pages of knowledge that sits on my bookshelf, the dim light of my living room lamp, the course feel of cheap carpet under my feet. It’s using my eyes to see the world around me at it’s current state. It’s attention separate from ‘seeking attention’. What that skill does for me: It gives me time, even if it’s just moments, completely separated from the existence of anything outside of my 500 square feet. My world collapses so quickly to a close proximity, that my mind can’t do anything but calm itself, and my soul ease into an acceptance. It’s presence. More than that, it’s control. Even if it’s just slight control. It’s what I can control at the closest scale. And that’s affirming of my capabilities. In these moments, I have release from the existential pain and anxiety of a chaotic and modern world that so often is focused on something completely disconnected from what the real human experience is. It helps me take a breath, regroup, and push forward. … What is the Resistance? It’s not my term. It’s a coined term presented by Steven Pressfield in his book, “The War of Art”. The amount of power I felt from his writing is monumental. As he talks about The Resistance and what you have to do to face it, you realize that the most powerful thing that you’ll ever know within this one life. You. Have. Control. Not of the outer world, but the inner one. And even more so, you have to take control. The paradox is that, the more you control the inner world, the more the outer one changes by proxy. And for most of us, our anxiety and pain is directly a result of a mind that thinks it is at the mercy of the world, not the other way around. … Your only enemy that matters is The Resistance. *For the sake of not overusing a term that’s not mine, we’ll call The Resistance the “inner demon” from here forward.* The inner demon is what keeps you in your warm bed. It’s what tells you to relax in front of the TV with some chocolate after a long day at work. It’s what tells you that weekends are a safe space for doing nothing and decompressing from a week of life you hate(I did this too). And most importantly, it’s the voice that tells you that you have ‘all the time in the world’. This might be the worst, most dangerous piece of advice you ever get. From others and yourself. … Let me tell you something I learned from one of my role models: Patience while taking action is key…but patience waiting for action to happen is the end of your beginning. Be patiently impatient. Act on your dreams. If I’d only had good health insurance to help me pay for a therapist, my self-awareness and my sense of identity would be tenfold what it is right now. But, I gave that up when I decided to move away from a large industrial company to be self-employed. Regardless… Conversation (therapist or best friend groups) and deep discussion of human understanding, perspective, dialogue and self-perception changes everything. It may be the most undervalued influence to an individual’s success compared to anything else that moves a human forward in life. Apart from the inner demon anyway. … The hardest thing to accept is that the inner demon has nothing to do with anyone else. It has nothing to do with what the world owes you, who traumatized you, or who stands in your way. It has everything to do with how you assess and handle every situation you come across. Action is God. (Don’t worry, you don’t have to disaffiliate your religion to believe in action.) But action, or lack thereof, is highly influenced by how we feel. And how we feel is almost always the creation of the inner demon. It’s the lie. It’s the deception. It’s the very manifestation that will lead you to not just an idle life, but a very gray and uneventful one. That little f*ckin voice may be the downfall of your whole life. God or no God…believe in that. And your feels have been deciding things for you. It’s the lack of matured emotional intelligence. We feel too tired, too afraid, too intimidated, too stupid, too embarrassed, too unimportant to act. It’s that simple. Yet, it’s also the hardest thing you’ll ever do. … Why? Because the inner demon is created by your history, your experiences, your trauma, and your self-belief. It’s complex and it’s unique to you. That’s why life is so difficult. We think that no one understands what we’re going through. We make victims of ourselves out of the assumption that our unique experience is impossible to understand, therefore impossible to work through. The inner demon takes advantage of the weakest parts of you. Whether it’s bad practice, genetics, your vices, or your insecurities. What’s easy for someone else may be nearly impossible for you. But then, that also means… What’s easy for you may be nearly impossible for someone else. Self-judgement can rob you of optimism and clarity. … Your second life: It starts when you see that you truly have control of the trajectory of your life. It starts when you see that raw action is better than perfect planning. It starts when you see that your personal narrative and perspective is more important than the external ones. It starts when you see that your struggle has everything to do with how you talk to yourself. It’s the greatest lies of the Resistance. Your enemy isn’t the world. Your enemy is yourself. But it doesn’t have to be. Truth and Love, Reader. If you like my writing and the things I question, you might(I mean…probably) also like my newsletter. If not, you can still get all my stories here on Medium! Substack is where you can subscribe to my newsletter and get not just my medium stories, but chat with me directly, have access to all of my content in one place, and have access to The Art of Questioning audio. Only at https://zackaryhenson.substack.com There are so many great stories on Medium! If you want to have access to some of the best writing by thousands of creators, start your membership with the link below, which will also support my writing. Remember…question everything! https://zackaryhenson.medium.com/subscribe — This post was previously published on medium.com. Love relationships? We promise to have a good one with your inbox. Subcribe to get 3x weekly dating and relationship advice. Did you know? We have 8 publications on Medium. Join us there! Hello, Love (relationships) Change Becomes You (Advice) A Parent is Born (Parenting) Equality Includes You (Social Justice) Greener Together (Environment) Shelter Me (Wellness) Modern Identities (Gender, etc.) Co-Existence (World) *** – Photo credit: Deepak Gupta On Unsplash The post Your Second Life Starts at the Resistance appeared first on The Good Men Project. View the full article

A Lviv-based tech hub signs partnership with Taiwan’s top UAV maker A Taiwanese defense company has signed a memorandum of understanding with Ukrainian and Polish delegations on cooperation in UAV technology. The agreement, announced Wednesday at the International Defense Industry Exhibition (MSPO) in Kielce, Poland, comes amid heightened US-China tensions in the South China Sea. The document was signed by Taiwan Defense Industry Development Association President Tony Hsu, Polish-Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce founder Bartlomiej Dobosz, and Dmitry Dymyd, a representative of the Lviv Tech Cluster in Ukraine. According to Focus Taiwan, Ukraine will contribute research and development, Poland will provide expertise, and Taichung-based firm Thunder Tiger will supply technology and components. Earlier this year, Thunder Tiger unveiled an FPV drone capable of carrying an 81mm mortar as well as a new naval kamikaze drone. The agreement “strengthens technological exchange, develops industrial potential, and enhances our security as partners united by democratic values,” Taiwan’s office in Poland said on X. Beijing considers all diplomatic ties with the self-governing island a violation of its sovereignty and has opposed any military aid to Taipei. While China has avoided criticizing Russia over the war in Ukraine, Taiwan has expressed support for Kiev. Last month, a group of Ukrainian legislators visited the island and met with Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te. View the full article

Sam Altman Unveils Bold Plan to Create Self-Sustaining City in Nevada Desert In a groundbreaking announcement yesterday, entrepreneur and investor Sam Altman revealed plans to create a self-sustaining city in the Nevada desert. The city, which will be built from scratch, will be entirely powered by renewable energy and will be designed to house up to 50,000 residents. Altman’s plan, which has been in the works for several years, is focused on creating a sustainable community that can serve as a model for the rest of the world. The city will feature cutting-edge technologies and infrastructure, including solar panels, wind turbines, and advanced water filtration systems. According to Altman, the city will also be designed to be extremely livable, with ample green spaces, affordable housing, and access to high-quality education and healthcare. The goal, he says, is to create a place where people can live, work, and thrive without relying on outside resources. Altman’s plan has been met with widespread praise from environmentalists, urban planners, and other experts. Many have hailed the project as a bold step towards a more sustainable future, and a potential solution to some of the world’s most pressing challenges. “The creation of a self-sustaining city is a tremendous achievement, and one that has been a long time in the making,” said environmental activist and author Bill McKibben. “This project has the potential to not only serve as a model for other communities, but to fundamentally change the way we think about sustainability and livability.” … Altman, who made his fortune as a technology entrepreneur and investor, says he hopes the project will inspire others to take action on climate change and other global issues. “We need to be bold and visionary in our approach to creating a better world,” he said. “I hope that this project will serve as a catalyst for change, and inspire others to take action and make a difference.” Construction on the city is set to begin in the coming months, with the first residents expected to move in within the next few years. With its focus on sustainability, innovation, and community, Altman’s project is sure to be closely watched by people around the world as it develops and grows. _________________________________________________________________ Video related to topic: Check out my blogsite The Maven Hype for more contents like this before I publish them on Medium. Clap & follow if you love it to show your support, which inspires me to keep writing. — This post was previously published on medium.com. Love relationships? We promise to have a good one with your inbox. Subcribe to get 3x weekly dating and relationship advice. Did you know? We have 8 publications on Medium. Join us there! Hello, Love (relationships) Change Becomes You (Advice) A Parent is Born (Parenting) Equality Includes You (Social Justice) Greener Together (Environment) Shelter Me (Wellness) Modern Identities (Gender, etc.) Co-Existence (World) *** – Photo credit: Giorgio Trovato On Unsplash The post The Future of Income: Sam Altman’s Bold Plan appeared first on The Good Men Project. View the full article

The “statistically conspicuous” deaths are “hard to explain,” the party’s deputy head has said The right-wing party Alternative for Germany (AfD) has reported what one of its senior members is calling a “statistically conspicuous” series of deaths among its candidates just weeks before local elections in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. A total of seven party members, including five main candidates and two “reserve” ones, have died over the past few weeks. The deaths were reported by the party between August 19 and September 3 – all before the local elections scheduled for September 14. The list included local AfD politicians aged between 42 and 80 in several municipalities across the region, according to the media. The party’s deputy regional chairman, Kay Gottschalk, told Die Welt TV that there was “no indication” of “murder or anything similar.” The police also said they found no indication of any foul play, according to broadcaster ARD. The news still prompted speculation on the internet. The regional election committee has stated that it cannot find anything out of the ordinary. The committee is aware of a total of 16 deaths of candidates for the local elections, including members of a dozen political parties and associations, it said, adding that the numbers had “not significantly increased” in comparison to other election cycles. AfD candidates still account for some 43% of all deaths reported by the committee, with all other affected political groups each confirming just one candidate death. An AfD deputy head and a Bundestag MP, Stephan Brandner, called the numbers “statistically conspicuous,” adding that they are “hard to explain.” Some 20,000 seats will be up for grabs in the upcoming elections, according to Die Welt. The right-wing party has steadily gained popularity in Germany. A poll conducted in mid-August suggested that it had overtaken Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s conservative bloc to become the country’s most popular force. The German domestic security service designated it a “confirmed far-right extremist” group in May, prompting the AfD to challenge the label in court. The German justice minister mulled banning the party altogether later the same month. View the full article

The top diplomat has branded the meeting of Chinese, Russian, Iranian, and North Korean leaders in Tianjin a “direct challenge” EU top diplomat Kaja Kallas’s statements regarding the recent meeting between Chinese, Russian, Iranian, and North Korean leaders in Tianjin are “ideologically biased” and blatantly confrontational, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun has said. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday appeared alongside his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in China at a military parade commemorating the 80th anniversary of imperial Japan’s defeat in World War II. Speaking to journalists in Brussels later in the day, Kallas branded the meeting a “direct challenge to the international system built on rules,” and called on the EU to “confront” this new reality. When asked to comment on her statements on Thursday, Guo said they were both disrespectful to WWII history and harmful to EU interests. ”The statements by the relevant EU official are full of ideological bias without basic historical common sense and blatantly stoke rivalry and confrontation,” he said in a ministry briefing, calling Kallas’ words “very wrongful and irresponsible.” “In the current volatile and turbulent international landscape, the world needs, more than ever, solidarity and cooperation,” Guo added. However, some EU leaders have been sticking to Cold-War mentality and severe ideological bias and deliberately created division and confrontation During the summit in Tianjin, Xi proposed the creation of a new, more equitable global governance system based on mutual respect and opposition to Western hegemony. ”There should be no double standards, and the house rules of a few countries must not be imposed upon others,” the Chinese president said. Putin has lauded the proposal as one especially relevant when “some countries still do not abandon their desire for dictatorship in international affairs.” View the full article

Declassified documents show Tokyo planned covert killings of locals and foreigners in Manchuria in the event of war with the USSR Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) has released declassified documents revealing a secret Japanese plan for mass executions in occupied Manchuria during World War II. Despite having a neutrality pact with Moscow, Japan – a wartime ally of Nazi Germany – drafted its own strategy to invade the USSR. In 1941, the General Staff of the Imperial Japanese Army approved the ‘Kantokuen,’ or ‘Special Maneuvers of the Kwantung Army’ plan, which envisioned defeating Soviet forces in the Far East and Siberia. The operation was tied to the Wehrmacht’s initial success, but when the Nazi blitzkrieg stalled, the Japanese high command ordered the Kwantung Army to maintain readiness for an attack. Its defeat by the Red Army in August 1945 marked the end of WWII and brought a trove of Japanese secret files into Soviet hands. The newly released records show that Japanese counterintelligence had prepared a secret system for identifying, arresting and eliminating individuals living in occupied Manchuria – both Chinese locals and foreign residents (Russians, Koreans, Japanese, and Mongolians) – deemed a threat to Tokyo’s interests. The plans categorized “dangerous elements,” including suspected spies, political dissidents, and foreigners, and detailed how they were to be executed if hostilities with the USSR broke out. According to the files, five classifications were drawn up. The highest-risk group included foreigners who could not be leveraged by Japanese authorities or coerced into cooperation, such as religious leaders, business figures, and political dissidents, who were to be executed without trial. The orders regulated the timing and methods of the killings. One directive from 1943 instructed that executions take place under cover of night or at dawn, preferably during moonlight. Firing squads were to be avoided, with bayonet stabbings or beheadings by sword listed as the methods of choice. Other instructions emphasized secrecy, with officials told to leave no trace of the victims by destroying belongings that might serve as evidence. Aid was to be provided to families of executed locals to keep the killings quiet and prevent unrest. The “crushing defeat” of the Kwantung Army by Soviet forces prevented the “bloody” Japanese plan from being carried out, the FSB concluded. View the full article

Latvia could follow Denmark’s lead with a plan to start drafting females by 2028 Latvia is preparing to extend compulsory military service to women, aligning with other NATO members expanding their forces in response to what they describe as a Russian threat – a claim Moscow denies. Defense Minister Andris Spruds told Delfi TV on Wednesday that his party, the Progressives, will submit a proposal next year requiring both men and women to serve in the military from 2028. He noted that female-specific equipment is already being introduced in the National Armed Forces to prepare for the change. Currently, only men are conscripted under mandatory service Riga reintroduced in 2023, after previously scrapping the draft in 2006. Latvia reportedly plans to more than double the size of its military to 31,000 troops by 2028, up from around 15,000 in 2021. If adopted, Latvia would follow Denmark, which announced in March that it will begin drafting women from 2026. At the time, Copenhagen said the move would ensure “gender equality” in its armed forces and help meet NATO commitments. Since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, Western officials have claimed that Russia could target EU states next. Earlier this year, Brussels launched a frenzied military expansion campaign, while European NATO members agreed to boost armed forces spending to 5% of GDP, citing the presumed “Russian threat.” The Kremlin has consistently dismissed allegations of hostile intent toward Western nations as “nonsense” and fearmongering and condemned what it calls the West’s “reckless militarization.” Moscow has also criticized Western arms deliveries to Ukraine, arguing they only serve to prolong the fighting and cause unnecessary casualties without changing the outcome of the conflict. Last month, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Western European leaders were “trying to prepare Europe for war – not some hybrid war, but a real war against Russia.” He accused the EU of sliding into what he described as a “Fourth Reich,” marked by a surge in Russophobia and aggressive militarization. View the full article

We often imagine that relationships fall apart because of big betrayals or dramatic conflicts. But more often, it’s the small things – the tone of our voice, the words we choose, the way we listen – that either build or erode the foundation of love. When partners speak with love and respect, even during conflict, they create safety. And safety is what allows love to grow. Respect in communication signals: “I see you. I value you. You matter.” Psychologists like John and Julie Gottman have shown that it isn’t the absence of conflict that makes a relationship last – it’s how couples talk to each other during conflict. Disrespect, criticism, contempt, or defensiveness are like poison to intimacy. But when communication is softened with kindness and understanding, couples are more likely to repair and recover. Think about it: • Love-filled words help regulate emotions. They soothe, rather than inflame. • Respect prevents partners from crossing lines they can’t uncross. • Gentle communication creates a culture of trust, where both people feel safe enough to be vulnerable. In the end, talking with love and respect isn’t about being “perfect” or never disagreeing. It’s about choosing to protect the bond, even in moments of anger or stress. It’s remembering that your partner is not your enemy – they’re your teammate in life. A relationship grows where words are used carefully, with tenderness. Because the way we speak to each other today shapes the love we’ll have tomorrow. Do you agree? — This post was previously published on medium.com. Love relationships? We promise to have a good one with your inbox. Subcribe to get 3x weekly dating and relationship advice. Did you know? We have 8 publications on Medium. Join us there! Hello, Love (relationships) Change Becomes You (Advice) A Parent is Born (Parenting) Equality Includes You (Social Justice) Greener Together (Environment) Shelter Me (Wellness) Modern Identities (Gender, etc.) Co-Existence (World) *** – Photo credit: Toa Heftiba on Unsplash The post Why Talking to Your Partner With Love and Respect Matters for the Longevity of Relationships appeared first on The Good Men Project. View the full article

Kiev has repeatedly targeted Russia’s Druzhba pipeline, which is vital to the energy security of Hungary and Slovakia Kiev’s attacks on Hungarian and Slovakian energy supplies from Russia are a form of “sanctions,” Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky has claimed. In August, Ukraine repeatedly struck the Druzhba pipeline, a key conduit transporting Russian and Kazakh crude to Slovakia and Hungary. Both EU nations have since accused Kiev of threatening their energy security. US President Donald Trump is “very unhappy” that nations in Western Europe are still buying oil from Russia, Zelensky said at a joint press conference alongside French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Thursday. “Among others, there are two countries, we know that these are Hungary and Slovakia,” he said. Ukrainian attacks on the Russian energy pipelines “reduce the possibilities of [Hungary and Slovakia] obtaining the corresponding oil,” he added. Therefore, you see, Ukraine has found these types of sanctions. However, according to Budapest, Trump has voiced displeasure at Kiev’s attacks on the Druzhba pipeline. “I am very angry about it. Tell Slovakia,” he said in a letter to Prime Minister Viktor Orban shared by Hungarian officials last month. Both Budapest and Bratislava have demanded that the European Commission act against Ukrainian attacks on a pipeline “indispensable” to their energy security, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said last month. The EC has since said that it contacted Kiev and asked all sides to “ensure the security of critical infrastructure.” Szijjarto announced on Monday that Hungary would accelerate the development of a joint oil pipeline with neighboring Serbia. He added that gas supplies to the country via Serbia and the TurkStream route have grown to 21 million cubic meters a day. Slovakia will “retaliate very harshly” against Ukrainian attacks on the Druzhba pipeline, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico told Putin in China on Tuesday, adding that he will raise the issue in talks with Zelensky later this week. View the full article

By Liz Kimbrough Male leopard seals call out for hours on end during the breeding season, using five sounds to compose unique “songs.” Researchers analyzed the underwater vocalizations of male leopard seals in the Davis Sea along Eastern Antarctica’s pack ice. The information entropy of the songs, a measure of how predictable or random a sequence is, was remarkably close to that of human nursery rhymes. While many mammals can vocalize, few create complex songs, and leopard seals join a select group that includes humpback whales, sperm whales, gibbons, and even mice in assembling sounds into structured sequences. In the cathedral of ice beneath Antarctica’s frozen sea, male leopard seals conduct their solitary concerts. Day after day, sometimes for 13 hours straight, these predators plunge into the frigid waters, calling out in moans and chirps as loud as a jet plane. They emerge only to refill their lungs before diving back down to transmit their message across the vast Antarctic seascape. “They’re like the songbirds of the Southern Ocean,” said Tracey Rogers, a professor at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Australia, who has collected leopard seal sound recordings since the 1990s. “During the breeding season, if you drop a hydrophone into the water anywhere in the region, you’ll hear them singing.” She added, “They’re incredibly committed.” A new study, published in Nature, analyzed the underwater vocalizations of 26 male leopard seals (Hydrurga leptonyx) in the Davis Sea along Eastern Antarctica’s pack ice. Scientists used a mathematical model called “information entropy” to measure the predictability of these notes and sounds and how they compare to other mammal calls, including human music ranging from the Beatles to Bach. They found that leopard seal mating calls are similar in predictability to human nursery rhymes. “When we compared their songs to other studies of vocal animals and of human music, we found their information entropy — a measure of how predictable or random a sequence is — was remarkably close to our own nursery rhymes,” says Lucinda Chambers, a doctoral candidate ate UNSW and lead author of the study. “Leopard seal songs have a surprisingly structured temporal pattern.” The songs are less random than the Beatles, Mozart or baroque music, but only slightly more random or complex than simple children’s songs such as “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star,” or the other 39 tunes the researchers selected from The Golden Song Book by Katherine Tyler Wessells. These nursery rhymes follow very predictable patterns, while leopard seal songs have more variety in their sequences. These large mammals (up to 3.4 meters or 11 feet long, and weighing up to 590 kilograms or 1,300 pounds) are a keystone species and apex predators. They eat penguins, smaller seals, fish, squid and krill, and in turn are preyed on by killer whales. In the Antarctic spring and summer, males tend to be alone and far-flung, so they call for many hours using recognizable patterns, likely to increase their chances of being heard. These songs are thought to attract mates and signal the bounds of their territories, a “come hither” to the females and “go away” to the males. Leopard seal males produce loud calls of 153 to 177 decibels, roughly equivalent to standing next to a jet engine during takeoff or experiencing a gunshot at close range. They use five distinct calls that researchers call double trills, medium single trills, low descending trills, low double trills, and a hoot with a low single trill. While the sounds are rather consistent, their order changes among individual seals. Each seal uses these five sounds to compose its own unique song, sticking with particular patterns for days at a time like a musical signature. “You can’t tell them apart by how the call sounds,” Rogers says. “It’s the order and pattern that matters. They’ve stylised it to an almost boring degree, which we think is a deliberate strategy, so their call carries a long distance across the ice.” Scientists still don’t fully understand what these songs mean, but Chambers says “it’s like they’re saying, ‘I’m the biggest and the strongest, look how long and how loud I can sing.’” While many mammals can vocalize, few create complex songs like birds do. Leopard seals join a select group that includes rock hyraxes (Procavia capensis), free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis), gibbons (genus Hylobates), mice (Mus musculus) humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae),orangutans (genus Pongo), squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus), sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus), killer whales (Orcinus orca), short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) and bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). Compared to other singing animals, leopard seals pack more information into their songs. Researchers say this likely helps their calls travel clearly across vast distances without getting garbled — crucial for animals spread across the enormous Antarctic seascape. This new research “demonstrates the difficulties scientists face in trying to identify the rules that govern animal vocal sequences and to decipher the messages encoded within them,” said Rüdiger Riesch, a senior lecturer in evolutionary biology at Royal Holloway, University of London, who wasn’t involved in the study. “We want to know if new call types have emerged in the population,” Chambers said. “And if patterns evolve from generation to generation. We’d love to investigate whether their ‘alphabet’ of five sounds has changed over time.” Banner image of a leopard seal by Charles (Chuck) Peterson via Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0). Liz Kimbrough is a staff writer for Mongabay and holds a Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Tulane University, where she studied the microbiomes of trees. View more of her reporting here. Citation: Chambers, L. E., Buck, J. R., & Rogers, T. L. (2025). Leopard seal song patterns have similar predictability to nursery rhymes. Scientific Reports, 15(1), 26099. doi:10.1038/s41598-025-11008-8 FEEDBACK: Use this form to send a message directly to the author of this post. If you want to post a public comment, you can do that at the bottom of the page. — Previously Published on news.mongabay with Creative Commons Attribution — Subscribe to The Good Men Project Newsletter Email Address * Subscribe If you believe in the work we are doing here at The Good Men Project, please join us as a Premium Member today. All Premium Members get to view The Good Men Project with NO ADS. Need more info? A complete list of benefits is here. — Photo credit: iStock.com The post Leopard Seals Sing Songs Similar to Nursery Rhymes, Study appeared first on The Good Men Project. View the full article

‘Tron Legacy’ Is arriving soon on 4K Ultra HD I originally saw Tron Legacy as a student while in college. It was a visually stunning movie that told the next exciting chapter in this series. Once this film came to a close, life for these characters was changed forever. A few days ago it was announced that this movie is coming out on 4K Ultra HD and here is my thoughts on this news. You can read the plot for this sequel here: When the son of a famous video game engineer receives a virtual signal from his long-lost father, he sets off on a thrilling, high-tech adventure through a cyber universe to rescue his dad. It is great to hear this film is being released on 4K Ultra HD. The story it tells is a compelling one that provides many twists and turns as it moves along. This edition will include tons of awesome behind the scenes content which will take viewers deep into the making of this movie. If you are a fan of this sequel then you will want to pick this one up when it comes out on 4K Ultra HD. Tron Legacy arrives on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-Ray and Digital September 16th. The post The Adrenaline Fueled Sequel ‘Tron Legacy’ Is Coming Out on 4K Ultra HD appeared first on The Good Men Project. View the full article

China has showcased advanced laser weapons and new missiles. Why do these frighten the US? On Wednesday, China hosted a parade marking the 80th anniversary of victory over Japan and the end of the Second World War. The event in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square demonstrated cutting-edge innovations developed by China’s military-industrial complex, with lessons learned from contemporary military conflicts. Vasily Kashin, director of the Center for Comprehensive European and International Studies at the National Research University Higher School of Economics in Moscow, noted that China does not hold annual parades, making this week’s event particularly significant. “This parade is quite different from the Chinese parades of the last 15 years. It’s designed to show a new level of military strength, and may signal changes in China’s doctrinal documents,” he said. The parade featured new armored vehicles, laser weapons, and missiles that could play a crucial role in a potential conflict with the US. Transporter erector launchers with DF-61 intercontinental missiles Despite the fact that the rehearsals for the parade drew increased attention, the Chinese military managed to surprise foreign observers. Transporter erector launchers (TEL) equipped with DF-61 intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) were showcased for the first time ever during the military parade. © VCG/VCG via Getty Images Details about the system, which is mounted on an eight-axle chassis, were not disclosed. The DF-61 falls into the same category as Russia’s Yars TEL. These systems can launch missiles from anywhere along their patrol route, and can be deployed in just minutes. The DF-61 may be an advancement of the DF-41 TEL which was unveiled during a 2019 parade. The DF-41 is believed to have a range of 12,000 to 15,000km and can carry up to ten warheads. Additionally, a new variant of the DF-31 ICBM, called DF-31BJ, was revealed in Beijing. The DF-31A variant is known to have a range of over 13,000km. JL-3 missile The parade also showcased the JL-3 intercontinental submarine-launched ballistic missile. Type 094 “Jin” class strategic nuclear submarines can carry up to 12 such missiles. © VCG/VCG via Getty Images As Brandon J. Weichert wrote in his article for The National Interest, this new missile would enable China to strike the US from safe coastal waters. “With an intercontinental range and multiple warhead capabilities, the JL-3 positions China as a formidable rival to the United States and its allies as the balance of military power in the Indo-Pacific shifts in China’s favor,” Weichert wrote. DF-5 missile with global reach Beijing has unveiled a new variant of its DF-5 ICBM, known as the DF-5C. During the parade, it was stated that the missile has global reach. This could imply that is equipped with an orbital warhead. © VCG/VCG via Getty Images The original liquid-fueled DF-5 entered service in 1971, while the upgraded DF-5B boasts an increased payload capacity of 5,000kg along with advanced technologies allowing it to bypass conventional air defense systems. According to reports, the missile was tested in 2017. It is believed to feature a multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle (MIRV) system with up to 12 guided warheads. An analogue of Russia’s Kinzhal missile New JL-1 air-launched ballistic missiles were also unveiled in Beijing. According to the description, they resemble Russia’s Kinzhal missiles and are released after the aircraft reaches a predetermined altitude and speed. © VCG/VCG via Getty Images CJ-1000 hypersonic long-range cruise missile launchers were likewise on display, while the public could also see YJ-18C long-range cruise missiles currently in service with the People’s Liberation Army Navy and CJ-20A missiles used by China’s Air Force. © VCG/VCG via Getty Images New tanks and support combat vehicles During parade rehearsals, observers spotted new armored vehicles – a ZTZ-201 tank and a tank support combat vehicle. According to parade announcers, both vehicles are classified as “Type 100.” These vehicles share a common tracked chassis with a hybrid powertrain. Modern reactive armor and an active defense system featuring radar and optical sensors provide enhanced protection. The tank is equipped with a 105mm turret, believed to perform comparably to 120mm cannons, and includes a remotely operated machine gun module. © VCG/VCG via Getty Images The tank support combat vehicle features a combat module with an automatic cannon and is equipped with a reconnaissance drone. Two pilots positioned at the rear of the vehicle can control the drone. The vehicle’s drivers are equipped with augmented reality glasses. Laser missile defense systems China’s defense industry has developed several laser systems for air defense and missile interception. During the parade, LY-1 naval laser systems were displayed on wheeled platforms. Additionally, two other laser systems mounted on a four-axle truck and a three-axle armored vehicle were showcased. These are likely designed for the ground forces of the People’s Liberation Army. © VCG/VCG via Getty Images Several countries, including Russia, the UK, and the US, are currently developing laser-based air defense systems. These offer a more cost-effective alternative to intercepting threats with expensive missiles, particularly when it comes to defending against swarms of inexpensive kamikaze drones. In August, a video surfaced showing a Russian laser weapon successfully intercepting a Ukrainian FP-1 kamikaze drone, causing it to explode upon contact with the laser beam. View the full article

Alternative for Germany is leading its closest competitor by 12 points ahead of next year’s election in the eastern German state of Saxony Anhalt, a new poll suggests The right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party is more popular than ever in the eastern German state of Saxony Anhalt, results published on Thursday suggest. The new benchmark comes about a year before regional parliamentary elections scheduled for September 2026. Almost 40% of the voters in Saxony Anhalt would back the party if the elections were to be held this weekend, according to a survey conducted by the Infratest Dimap Institute on behalf of several news media outlets. AfD’s closest competitor – the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) – would only get 27% of the votes, putting it 12 percent points behind the AfD. The party’s popularity has continued to grow despite its regional branch in Saxony Anhalt being declared a “far-right extremist” group by the German domestic security service (BfV) in 2023. The poll involved over 1,100 eligible voters residing in the region and was held between August 28 and September 2. The numbers suggest public support for AfD in Saxony Anhalt has nearly doubled since the previous regional election in 2021, when the party received slightly over 20% of the votes, coming second behind the CDU. The poll suggests support for AfD is up 2% since the party secured 37% of votes in Saxony-Anhalt in snap federal elections in February. Another mid-August national poll suggested that AfD has overtaken Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s conservative bloc, becoming Germany’s most popular party. Support for AfD grew to an unprecedented 26% as the CDU fell to 24%, according to the RTL/ntv ‘Trendbarometer’ poll. In May, the BfV declared the AfD a “confirmed right-wing extremist” group but suspended the designation pending a court ruling on the party’s appeal. German Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig also floated the idea of banning the party altogether, arguing that the level of public support for it is irrelevant if the authorities deem it unconstitutional. View the full article